rss
Br J Ophthalmol 2005;89:806-808 doi:10.1136/bjo.2004.054239
  • Clinical science
    • Scientific reports

The use of low dose methotrexate in children with chronic anterior and intermediate uveitis

  1. A R Malik1,
  2. C Pavesio2
  1. 1East Surrey Hospital, Redhill, Surrey, UK
  2. 2Moorfields Eye Hospital, London EC1V 2PD, UK
  1. Correspondence to: C Pavesio MD, FRCOphth, Moorfields Eye Hospital, London EC1V 2PD, UK; carlos.pavesiomoorfields.nhs.uk
  • Accepted 12 November 2004

Abstract

Aim: To assess the efficacy of low dose methotrexate (MTX) therapy for children with chronic anterior and intermediate uveitis.

Methods: A retrospective case review of 10 children who received MTX for chronic uveitis at a tertiary referral centre was performed. The following data were recorded for each patient: age, sex, race, duration of uveitis, primary diagnosis, anatomical localisation of uveitis, corticosteroid therapy, dose range of MTX, duration of MTX therapy, and side effects of MTX therapy. Several clinical parameters were evaluated to study the effect of MTX. These included visual acuity, anterior chamber inflammation, and topical and oral corticosteroid requirement.

Results: After MTX VA of 6/6 or better was present in 100% right eyes and 80% left eyes (p = 0.055 and p = 0.016, respectively). Anterior chamber inflammation decreased in 60% of children after MTX (p = 0.0168). The requirement of topical steroid decreased from a mean of 5.6 times a day before MTX to 1.5 times a day after MTX (p = 0.005). The dose of oral steroid decreased from a mean of 18 mg per day to 2.85 mg per day (p = 0.012). The most common adverse effect was nausea (20%). No patient required discontinuation of MTX because of side effects.

Conclusion: MTX is effective and safe for chronic anterior and intermediate uveitis in children. An increase awareness of its efficacy is required among paediatricians and ophthalmologists to prevent sight threatening complication of chronic uveitis and its treatment with long term use of steroids.

Footnotes

    This Article

    1. Abstract
    2. Full text
    3. PDF

    Services

    1. Email this link to a friend
    2. Alert me when this article is cited
    3. Alert me if a correction is posted
    4. Alert me when eletters are published
    5. Article Usage Statistics
    6. Similar articles in this journal
    7. Similar articles in Web of Science
    8. Similar articles in PubMed
    9. Add article to my folders
    10. Download to citation manager
    11. Request permissions

    Responses

    1. Submit a response
    2. No responses published

    Social bookmarking

    Register for free content


    Free sample
     This recent issue is free to all users to allow everyone the opportunity to see the full scope and typical content of BJO.
    View free sample issue >>

    Free archive
    The full back archive is now available for BJO. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006, back to volume 1 issue 1.
    Register to access the free archive >>

    Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.